Blue stars buds
Click for greater clarity.
In the last picture you could make out a few buds of Amsonia ciliata, but the blue stars of the plant’s flowers stole the show. This follow-up photograph gives the buds their due. It also lets you see the little hairs, or cilia, that explain the species name ciliata. This photograph comes from the same trip to Kathy Comer’s property northwest of Austin as the previous one.
For more information, and to see a state-clickable map of the places in the southeastern United States where blue stars grow, you can visit the USDA website.
© 2012 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
I love photos of flowers. They’re always so stunning.
~S
S. Singh
April 9, 2012 at 2:35 PM
From one S.S. to another S.S., one lover of flower photos to another.
Steve Schwartzman
April 9, 2012 at 4:16 PM
Yup 🙂
S. Singh
April 9, 2012 at 4:58 PM
wow. The unfurled ones are even bluer and just as lovely. This is a wonderful photo, Steve.
weisserwatercolours
April 9, 2012 at 3:07 PM
I thought about that too, how the developing flowers are of a richer blue-violet than the open ones, which turn paler.
Steve Schwartzman
April 9, 2012 at 4:19 PM
Beautiful shots, of both bud and flower. What a lovely little flower it is, too!
Susan Scheid
April 9, 2012 at 4:20 PM
You can see why I was happy to run across a bunch of them and be able to play with them for a while. I don’t think I’d ever seen a cluster of buds before.
Steve Schwartzman
April 9, 2012 at 4:25 PM
Ah, so much to admire in such a small package. Marvelous. I can see why they captivated you.
kathryningrid
April 9, 2012 at 5:03 PM
Thanks, Kathryn. There are so many things out there to be captivated by. I never run out of subjects when I run out into nature.
Steve Schwartzman
April 9, 2012 at 5:23 PM
Beautiful shot.
victoriaaphotography
April 9, 2012 at 6:54 PM
Thanks, Victoria.
Steve Schwartzman
April 9, 2012 at 7:58 PM
I recently heard someone (from the relatively far north) say that her tulips were getting ready to “pop”. That’s what these appear to be contemplating. They seem to be swelling up with life – reminds me of my favorite Dylan Thomas line, about the “force that through the green fuse drives the flower”.
shoreacres
April 10, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Now that’s a great poem. I’ve spent a lot of time in places where the “force that through the green fuse drives the flower” is constantly at work.
Steve Schwartzman
April 10, 2012 at 1:04 PM
Oh, and you may have noticed from comments about certain pictures here that photographers use the verb pop in another way, to mean ‘exhibit striking or saturated colors.’
Steve Schwartzman
April 10, 2012 at 1:07 PM
Love the composition of this shot Steve!!
dhphotosite
April 11, 2012 at 9:14 AM
Thanks, David. It was my first chance to take a picture of this species’ buds.
Steve Schwartzman
April 11, 2012 at 3:51 PM
WOW! Love the coloring of this beautiful plant, just beautiful. So glad you stopped by my site so I was able to discover yours!
jkgphotos
April 17, 2012 at 7:17 AM
I wish these buds and their flowers were more common in my area. Thanks for coming by.
Steve Schwartzman
April 17, 2012 at 7:34 AM